Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Yet another exoplanet

Transit Search Finds Super-Neptune

HAT-P-11b was discovered because it passes directly in front of (transits) its parent star, thereby blocking about 0.4 percent of the star's light. This periodic dimming was detected by a network of small, automated telescopes known as "HATNet," which is operated by the Center in Arizona and Hawaii. HAT-P-11b is the 11th extrasolar planet found by HATNet, and the smallest yet discovered by any of the several transit search projects underway around the world.


It seems like a new exoplanet is discovered roughly as often as I receive a new Windows software update.

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